Sunil Gavaskar Identifies Turning Moment In Indore Test: “It Cost India The Match”

The third India-Australia Test in Indore, according to former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, was decided by the no-ball bowled by Ravindra Jadeja, on which the spinner dismissed Marnus Labuschagne. When Jadeja dismissed Labuschagne in Australia’s first innings, he had not yet scored. The Aussie hitter pulled an outside-off length ball against his stumps. But the TV umpire saw that Jadeja had gone too far. In addition to scoring 31 runs and forming a vital 96-run stand with Usman Khawaja for the second wicket to rescue Australia, Labuschagne had a reprieve.

Gavaskar believes that Jadeja’s no-ball bowled cost India the game.

“If you reflect on the Test match, you can conclude that India lost because of that. After India was removed for 109, (Marnus) Labuschagne was out for a duck, and they (later) stitched the partnership of 96 runs. That, in my opinion, marked the turning point. I believe that India’s loss was due to the no-ball “Gavaskar stated following the game.

Australia turned the tables on India with a decisive nine-wicket victory in the third Test on a pitch that featured wicked spin and varying bounce, securing their spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final, which will take place in Indore on Friday.

The match was completed in just under two days thanks to the efforts of Travis Head (49 not out) and Marnus Labuschagne (28 not out), who overcame some tense situations to lead Australia home in 18.5 overs.

For visiting teams, victories in India are uncommon, and Australia was no exception, recording their first triumph on Indian soil in six years.

It was only India’s third loss in the previous ten years, and they will need to revise their strategies before the final Test, which starts in Ahmedabad on March 9.